As someone prone to dry skin, I've got to say that there are a lot of ups and downs when dealing with it. On top of my dry, sometimes sensitive skin, I have the pleasure of dealing with eczema. What can I say? It keeps things exciting. If you have any of the above skin issues, I'm sure you can relate.
Right now, I'm going through an "up" phase because the eczema on my hands and body is not flaring up, my face isn't dry and peeling, and my skin feels way soft. We're having a good moment. But I'm not trying to brag too much, because today I'm going to tell you about my absolute favorite moisturizer to use during the times my skin is ultra parched. And guess what? It can be found at the drugstore.
Board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, has a similar outlook. "A moisturizer does not have to be expensive or fancy to be well formulated—I agree that there are some excellent drugstore moisturizers!" she tells Who What Wear.
So let me introduce you to my holy-grail moisturizer: Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gel-Cream. This drugstore find never fails me when it comes to saving my dry skin. It's a lightweight and cooling gel formula that feels so soothing on peeling, red, or irritated skin. If your skin has ever been so dry it actually hurts, you know that something cooling feels just heavenly. It also absorbs super quickly, so it works fast to get rid of that dry skin, and it doesn't leave a greasy or sticky feeling.
Whenever I put this on, my skin feels way better. And after a few days of application, the dryness is gone. Sometimes when my skin is extra dry, I'll apply it at least two times a day, and since it's a lightweight formula, it doesn't feel like I'm caking on the product. It's like magic for me since my skin looks and feels plumper, smoother, and healthier after using it.
I highly recommend trying my drugstore favorite the next time you experience dryness. And if you're looking for other moisturizing options, I've included some highly rated ones below (plus a few recommended by King herself) that have similar price points.
1. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Pros: Fragrance-free and noncomedogenic
Cons: Jars are typically less hygienic than bottles (unless it comes with a beauty spatula)
Size: 19 ounces
This cream can be used on both the face and body. King agrees: "This is a great moisturizer choice," she says. The rich formula contains hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides to provide up to 24 hours of hydration. "It's noncomedogenic so it won't clog pores and contribute to acne, and its skin barrier- nourishing ingredients help to protect the skin from the potentially irritating effects of anti-acne medications," King adds.
2. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
Pros: Deeply hydrates yet doesn't feel heavy on the skin
Cons: Small size
Size: 1.7 ounces
In addition to the usual hydrating suspects like hyaluronic acid, Garnier's gel cream is formulated with vitamin C to brighten and revive the skin. King is also a fan of Garnier's moisturizer offerings, calling them "multitasking favorites" given the formula's impressive antioxidant power.
3. Cetaphil Daily Oil-Free Hydrating Lotion
Pros: Won't clog pores, so it's also great for acne-prone skin
Cons: Has a lighter texture, if you're looking for something richer.
Size: 3 ounces
This hydrating lotion works well on combination and sensitive skin types. The fast-absorbing and lightweight formula hydrates and locks in moisture for up to 24 hours.
4. Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream
Pros: Soothes sensitive skin upon application
Cons: Better suited for body than face
Size: 12 ounces
I've always had eczema on my hand, but I started experiencing flare-ups on my body, so I was desperate to find a solution. Enter Aveeno's Eczema Therapy lotion. It was able to soothe my dry and irritated skin, and after about two weeks of use, my eczema flare-up was completely cleared.
5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Pros: Great for acne-prone and dry skin, contains the brand's signature Thermal Spring Water for extra skin healing
Cons: Pricey for a small size
Size: 3.4 ounces
In addition to targeting dryness, this face moisturizer protects against free-radical damage. Ingredients include ceramides, prebiotic thermal water, glycerin, and niacinamide.
6. Nivea Intense Healing Body Lotion
Pros: Soothes rough skin after one application, and makes for a superb foot cream, too
Cons: Some reviewers report a strong fragrance
Size: 16.9 ounces
If you're dealing with dry and tight skin all over your body, try this super-nourishing lotion. It's enriched with Nivea's serum and provitamin B5 and formulated to keep your skin moisturized for up to 72 hours.
It also contains glycerin and glyceryl stearate, which King praises as skin-soothing ingredients. "Glycerin is a humectant and emollient that draws in moisture to hydrate and locks in that moisture," she says. "Glyceryl stearate is a conditioning agent that works as an emollient to soften the skin."
7. Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream
Pros: Great for dry skin, irritation, and even scars
Cons: Expensive for a small size
Size: 1.3 ounces
This cream works to prevent water evaporation so your skin won't dry out. It also smooths dehydration lines while providing 24 hours of hydration. Ingredients include shea butter and safflower oil.
Who What Wear senior beauty editor Jamie Schneider is particularly passionate about its skin-soothing power. "If you enjoy a denser cream, you seriously cannot go wrong with this face moisturizer," she says. "And don't sleep on its healing properties. I even applied it on a recent scar I had, and it helped the mark fade like a memory."
8. Vanicream Moisturizing Cream
Pros: Fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, recommended time and again by derms
Cons: Texture can be a bit sticky
Size: 16 ounces
Vanicream's Moisturizing Cream is another go-to for me. I love that it's free of dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde—meaning it's easy on sensitive skin.
9. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream Moisturizer
Pros: Has a plumping effect on the skin
Cons: On the pricier side
Size: 1.7 ounces
This formula contains hyaluronic acid to promote collagen production and shea butter for a creamy texture and feel. You'll get up to 48 hours of hydration with this fast-absorbing cream.
10. Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Fragrance-Free Moisturizing Lotion
Pros: Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free
Cons: Might feel too thick for some
Size: 32 ounces
Great for extra-dry skin, Lubriderm's lotion is infused with nourishing vitamin E, provitamin B5, and lipids. It works to repair the skin's moisture barrier.
11. Olay Active Hydrating Cream
Pros: Feels like silk on the skin
Cons: Not fragrance-free
Size: 1.9 ounces
Not only does Olay's cream hydrate the skin, but it also smooths and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And even though the formula is rich, that doesn't mean it clogs pores.
12. L'Oréal Collagen Face Moisturizer
Pros: Plumps fine lines and makes skin look "bouncy"
Cons: Not fragrance-free
Size: 1.7 ounces
This moisturizer can be used both in the morning and evening to deliver deep hydration to the skin while also smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The lightweight and nongreasy formula works well on all skin types.
13. Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer
Pros: Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, feels calming on the skin
Cons: Has a gel-cream consistency—some may prefer a richer texture
Size: 1.7 ounces
Aveeno's moisturizer is made for sensitive skin types. The prebiotic oat in the formula soothes and repairs the skin's moisture barrier, and feverfew calms irritated skin.
14. Differin Restorative Night Cream
Pros: Great for acne-prone, sensitive, and dry skin
Cons: Some reviewers report feeling sticky
Size: 2.5 ounces
Differin is known for its powerful and effective adapalene gel for acne, but it also has a deeply hydrating night moisturizer for dry and flaky skin. Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and allantoin.
15. St. Ives Renewing Moisturizer
Pros: Lightweight and non-greasy
Cons: Not fragrance-free
Size: 10 ounces
This daily facial moisturizer contains collagen and elastin to condition the skin and leave it looking glowy. It's also made with safflower oil, which helps smooth and moisturize.
16. Hero Cosmetics Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer
Pros: Combats acne-causing bacteria without stripping skin, great for smoothing rough, dry skin texture
Cons: Not the best option for super-sensitive skin
Size: 2.4 ounces
Hero Cosmetics might be best known for their OG Pimple Patches, but don't sleep on their high-quality skin care formulas! This moisturizer, for instance, contains sage extract to naturally purify pores and a prebiotic sugar complex to balance the skin microbiome and keep the good bacteria in your skin thriving. It's wonderful for dry, acne-prone individuals or whenever your congested, dull skin needs a pick-me-up.
17. La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Moisturizing Cream
Pros: Soothes irritated, rough skin, fabulous for extra-dry skin (especially during winter)
Cons: Very thick texture that takes a minute to rub in
Size: 13.5 ounces
Here's another intensely moisturizing option for the body (plus the face and hands). It's formulated with niacinamide, shea butter, and glycerin to hydrate and repair dry skin. It keeps skin moisturized for up to 48 hours.
FAQ
What should you look for in a drugstore moisturizer?
Above all, you'll want to make sure the formula has a healthy balance of humectants, emollients, and occlusives.
"Humectants, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, are mostly low molecular weight substances that bind water into the stratum corneum," says King. "They need to be used along with the other components in order to retain the water content." They're wonderful hydrators, but they need some extra help to keep from evaporating out of your skin.
That's where emollients come in! These are skin conditioners that fill in micro-cracks in the skin barrier, and help the most with skin texture and appearance. "Examples include cholesterol, squalene, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and ceramides," says King.
Finally, "Occlusives are oils and waxes which form an inert layer on the skin and physically block transepidermal water loss," King notes. Translation: They keep all that precious hydration locked inside. "Examples include petrolatum, beeswax, mineral oil, silicones, lanolin, and zinc oxide," she explains.
What moisturizer is best for your skin type?
"For dry skin or dry environments, look for a moisturizer that contains heavier emollients and more occlusives to lock in moisture," says King. "For oilier skin or humid environments, lighter emollients and fewer occlusives may be preferable." Mature skin also tends to run dry, but King suggests seeking additional skin-plumping ingredients, such as peptides.
"Vitamin C and other antioxidants can be added to help protect against damage from free radicals; niacinamide can be added to help improve tone and texture, and soothing ingredients like bisabolol, allantoin, and aloe can be added to calm the skin," she shares.
What should you avoid in a drugstore moisturizer?
"Avoid formulations that don't have occlusive properties, particularly if your skin is dry or if you are in a dry environment," says King. "You really need the combination of humectants, emollients, and occlusives for optimal results." (Remember: Occlusives are important for keeping moisture from seeping out of your skin).
"If you have oily or acne-prone skin, avoid comedogenic ingredients and other heavy occlusives," she adds. "For sensitive skin, avoid potentially irritating added ingredients like exfoliating acids and retinol."
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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